Gideon p



(No Model.)

G. P. KIDD.

WIRE STRETOHER.

Patented Mar. 14, 1893.

FIG I UNTTED STATES PATENT @EETQE.

GIDEON P. KIDD, OF ROANN, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES H.ARNOLD AND JAMES H. BARNHART, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,432, dated March14, 1893.

Application filed June 6, 1892. Serial No. 435,670. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GIDEON P. KIDD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Roann, in the county of Wabash and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Wire- Stretcher, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction of that class of wire stretchers which are adapted to beattached to a fence and form a permanent part thereof, and enable thefence Wires to be tightened or adjusted from time to time as is foundnecessary.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a Wire stretcherconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is adetail perspective View of the shaft. Fig. 5 is a detail view of theratchet disk. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the rear end orbend of the yoke.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawlngs.

1 designates an approximately U-shaped yoke constructed of spring metaland provided in the outer ends of its sides with bearing openings inwhich are journaled rounded portions of a shaft 3, provided intermediateits ends with annular flanges 4 which form a drum upon which a wire tobe stretched'is wound. One end of the shaft is squared at5 to fit it tobe engaged by a wrench or other tool, and its other end is provided witha 1011- gitudinal slot 6 extending inward to facilitate the attachmentof an end of a strand of wire to the shaft, and to receive a securingbar 7 of a ratchet disk 8. In order to cheapen the construction andfacilitate the manufacture of the device, a separate ratchet disk isemployed, and it is provided with oppositely disposed segmental openings10 which receive the divided portions of the slotted end of the shaftand are separated by a bar diametrically disposed and adapted to beinserted in the slot of the bolt, whereby the ratchet disk is made rigidwith the shaft. The shaft is concavely grooved at 12 between the annularflanges to cause the wire being stretched to accumulate at the middle ofthe shaft to prevent its being caught in the flanges S and retarding therotation of the shaft and the operation of the device.

The yoke which is constructed of spring metal is adapted to have itssides sprung apart to receive the shaft and after the latter has beeninserted the sides are held against lateral movement by a transversebolt 13 arranged in perforations of the sides and provided with a nut14.

The sides of the yoke are provided on their upper edges with verticallyextending lugs or extensions 15 and 16, adapted for the reception of apawl 17. The pawl 17 consists of a horizontal pin provided at one endwith a head 18 and an angularly bent end 19; the extension 15 isprovided with an opening of sufficient size to permit the pin to movefreely but to prevent the head of the pin from being drawn through it,and the other extension 16 is provided with a vertical slot 20 to permitthe horizontal locking pin, which forms a gravity pawl, to be readilyengaged with and disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

The wire stretcher is adapted to be applied to a strand of wire at anypoint along the same, to take up the slack and in applying the devicethe wire is inserted in the slot of the shaft after which the ratchetdisk is placed on the shaft, and the sides of the yoke are then sprungover the shaft. The yoke is provided at its bend with a notch 21arranged at the lower edge and adapted to receive the wire to hold thedevice in proper position.

It will be seen that thedevice is simple and comparatively inexpensivein construction, and may be readily applied to a fence, and is capableof maintaining a fence at any desired tension, and of being adjustedfrom time to time to preserve the necessary tension.

What I claim is- 1. In a wire stretcher, the combination of a yokehaving vertical extensions provided with openings, a shaft journaledinthe sides of the yoke and having a longitudinal slot at one end, aratchet disk having oppositely disposed segmental openings receiving theslotted portion of the shaft, and divided by a diametrically disposedlocking bar arranged in the slot of the shaft, and a gravity pawlconsisting of the transverse pin arranged in the openings of theextensions and provided at one end with a head and having its other endbent downward, substantially as described.

2. In a wire stretcher, the combination of a yoke provided at its bendat the lower edge thereof with a wire receiving notch and having at thefront ends of its sides vertical extensions provided with openings, theslotted shaft journaled in the sides of the yoke pro- GIDEON P. KIDD.Witnesses:

S. L. OCKER, W. J. CONNER.

